Card shuffler



July 28, 1953 c, PHELPS 2,646,988

CARD SHUFFLER Filed July 5, 1950 WINNIN- INVENTOR. 555321338 GPHELPS Patented July 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PA-TENT OFFICE CARD SHUFFLER Charles G. Phelps, Bremerton, Wash.

Application July 5, 1950, Serial No. 172,083

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for shuffling playing cards.

The major object of the invention is to provide a card shuflier which is compact, conveniently used and economical to manufacture. Another object of the invention is to provide a card shufiler of simplified construction which is easy to operate and free of trouble.

In the attainment of these objects, one feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of converging side walls forming the sides of cardcontaining compartments and guides to a cardreceiving compartment. An important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of spaced wheels on a shaft so cards rest upon the wheels at an angle inclined forwardly and upwardly. Pressure tabs overlie the wheels on the shaft and are pivoted below the shaft so the tabs are also inclined upwardly and forwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a card shuflier embodying the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the card shufiler shown in Fig. 1.

As illustrated, the card shufller has a horizontal base plate II of wedge shape formation so its side edges converge forwardly. Extending upwardly from these side edges are vertically disposed forwardly converging side walls I2 and I3.

The side wall I2 has a top edge I4 inclined forwardly and upwardly to a rounded top portion I4 and then sharply downwardly and forwardly to the front end of the base plate II. Side wall I3 is similarly shaped.

Extending across the rear of the base plate II between the side walls I2 and I3 is a lower rear wall I5 having a portion l6 adjacent the side wall I2 substantially normal to that side wall and a portion Il adjacent the side wall I3 and substantially normal thereto. Extending forwardly from this rear wall I5 is a partition designated generally at I8 having one wall I9 parallel to the side wall I2 and another wall 2I parallel to the side wall I3. These two partition walls I9 and 2E converge forwardly together at 22. Top surfaces 23 and 24 of the side walls I9 and 2I, respectively, are inclined upwardly and forwardly at about the same angle of inclination as the top surfaces of the side walls. Thus, the side Walls and the partition walls form two more or less rectangularly shaped card-containing Ill compartments closed at one end by the portions I6 and I! of the rear Wall I5.

Journaled in bearings 25 and 26 in the side walls I2 and I3, forwardly of the partition I8 is a shaft 21 provided on one end with a crank handle 30. Fixed on this shaft 21 are a pair of friction wheels 28 and 29 spaced on opposite sides of the partition I8 approximately midway between the partition walls and the side walls forming the respective card containing compartments. These friction wheels 28 and 29 may be of any suitable construction, preferably of rubber or having rubber tires.

At its forward end, base plate I I is formed with a notch 3! extending rearwarclly from the forward end of the base plate. A low abutment 32 extends across the forward edge of the base plate II from the notch 3| to the side wall I2 and a similar abutment 33 extends from the notch 3| to the side wall I3.

From an inspection of the drawings, it will be apparent that side walls I2 and I3 with parallel partition walls I9 and 2I are so arranged that center lines between the two sets of parallel walls converge together at a point near the forward end of the base plate II opposite the abutments 32 and 33.

Vertically disposed on the portion I6 of the rear wall I5 are a pair of projections or pivotal mountings 34 and 35. Pins 36 and 31 are mounted in these projections and have opposed tips extending inwardly toward each other. These pins 36 and 31 are positioned below the shaft 27. Pivoted on these pins is a pressure tab 38 disposed between side wall I2 and the partition wall 23. As the pins 36 and 31 are substantially normal to the side wall I2, the pressure tab 38 pivots about an axis normal to the side wall I2 and below the shaft 21. A similar pair of projections or pivotal mountings 39 and M are arranged on the portion I! of the rear wall I5 and carry pins 42 and 43 on which the rear end of pressure tab 44 is pivoted. Pins 42 and 43 are also arranged below the shaft 21 and are substantially normal to the side wall I3 so the pressure tab 44 pivots about an axis below the shaft 27 and normal to the side wall I3. Pressure tabs 38 and 44, respectively, overlie the friction wheels 28 and 29 so they are inclined forwardly upwardly from the rear wall I5 to the friction wheels 28 and 29. 7

In operation, the cards to be shuffled are divided intoapproximately equal parts. One part is placed bfineath the pressure tab 38, as indicated at with the rear ends of the cards resting upon the base plate 1 l at the rear wall [5 and extending upwardly over the friction wheel 28. The other part 52 of the deck is placed beneath pressure tab 44 with its rear end on the base plate at the rear wall. I'he cards in this part of the deck extend upwardly over the friction wheel 29.

Then, by turning the crank 30, friction wheels 28 and 2,9 are rotated and move the bottom cards of the two parts 51 and 52 forwardly. As the cards are moved forwardly, they are guided by engaging converging side walls [2 and I3, as indie cated by the cards shown in dotted lines at 53 and 54 (Fig. 1). In this fashion, the cards $1}? gaged by the wheels 28 and 29 are directed onto the front part of the base plate I l where the cards engage abutments 32 and 33 and are deposited the card-receiving compartment formed by the base plate ll, abutments 32 and 33 and the forward portions of side walls l2 and I3. Cards thus deposited assume a position such as that shown in dotted lines at .55.

As the friction wheels =28 and 29 remove only the bottom cards from the two :parts, sin le cards from first one part and then the other are trans.- ferred to the card-receiving compartment so the cards from the two parts are alternately mixed together to "form a single deck in the card.- receiving compartment. When all the cards of both parts of the deck have .been transferred to the .cardereceiving compartment, the shuffled deck may thenzbe removed conveniently by inserting a finger into zllhe notch 3.! and lifting the deck .out of the card shufiler.

Gravity acting on the pressure tabs 38 and 44 provides sufficient pressure to retain the cards in the parts 5.! and .52 of the deck in proper position with the bottom cardof each .part engaging one of :the friction wheels 28 and 29. As these tabs .overlie the friction wheels '28 and 29, and are pivoted below the friction wheelson axes normal to the side walls 12 and -13, the pressure .tabs act independently to retain the cards of -.the two parts in proper position. Thus, if the=deck is not evenly divided, :the pressure tabs apply pressure separately to the two .parts of the .deck and the card .shuflier iis .eifective to intersperse the cards as they are deposited in the card-receiving compartment.

In the preferred formof the inventionythe base plate H, side walls 12 and I3, .rearwall I 5, projections 34,35, 12 and 43, partition walls 28 and 24, and abutments 32 and -33 are molded as an integral structure of plastic material. "The pivot pins are inserted ancl'the pressure tabs 38 and M are mounted thereon. The bearings '25 and 26 may be molded in the plastic side walls 42 and 13, -respectively, and the shaft, with its friction wheels 28 and 29, mounted therein.

'It will be apparent :that this card shufiler is comparatively economical to manufacture and assemble. 'The small number of moving parts and the simplicity 'of their operation will provide a long period of trouble-freeservice.

What is-claimedis:

l. A card shuiller comprising-a horizontal'base plate, arear wall extending'upwardly at the rear of said plate, side walls extending-upwardlyfrom said plate, a vertical partition between said side walls=extending forwardly from the rear of said plate, a horizontal shaft journaledin said side walls above said base plate and forwardly of said partition, a-pair of friction wheels :omsaid shaft, one wheel on each side of said-partitiomapressure tab between one .side Welland-said partition overlying one wheel, a pressure tab between the other side wall and said partition overlying the other wheel, and pivotal mountings on said rear wall for the rear ends of both tabs disposed below the axis of said shaft so cards beneath said tabs have their edges resting upon said base plate at the juncture of said rear wall and their bottom surfaces inclined forwardly and upwardly relative to sa d b se pla e and resting up n he respective wheels.

2. A card shufller comprising a horizontal base plate, a rear wall extending upwardly at the rear of said plate, forwardly converging side walls on said plate, a shaft journaled in said side walls above said base plate, a pair of friction wheels spaced on said shaft, a pair of pressure tabs overlying said wheels, and pivotal mountings below said shaft supporting the rear ends of said tabs so that cards beneath said tabs have their edges resting upon said base plate at the juncture of said rear wall and their bottom surfaces inclined forwardly and upwardly relative to .Said base plate and resting up n the re p c ve wh els.

:3. A card .shuffler compri ng a horizontal base plate, a rear wall extending upwardly at the rear of said pl te, forward y c nv r ing side walls. on said plate, .a shaft iournaled in said convergin side walls above said plate, a pair .OI i ti wheels spaced ,on said shaft. and a pair ,of pre sure tabs overlying s id wheels and indep ndenty p voted at the rear ends on axes normal to the respective conversin side walls so cards b n ath said :ta-bs have their edges resting upon said base plate at the juncture of said rear wall and their bottom surfaces inclined forwardly and upwardly re ative to said plate and restin up n the r spective wheels.

.4. A card shuffler comprising a horizontal base plate, a rear wall extending upwardly at the rear of said plate, forwardly convergin side walls onsaid plate, .a partition between said side walls extending forwardly from the rear of said plate, said partition having walls parallel to said side walls converging together intermediate the ends of said .plate, a shaft journaled in said .converging side walls above said plate forwardly of .said partition, a pair of friction wheels on said shaft, one wheel on each side .of said partition, a pair of pressure tabs, one on each side .of said partition, overlying said .wheels, and ,pivotal mounting-s zbelow .said shaft supporting the rear ends of .said .tabslso .cards beneath said tabs have their edges resting upon said base plate at :the juncture of said rear wall .and their bottom surfaces in.- clined forwardly and ,upwardly relative to said base plate and resting upon :the respective Wheels.

5. Acardshufiler comprising a horizontal base plate, a rear wall extending .upwardly at .the rear of said "plate, forwardly converging side walls .extending upwardly from said plate, a partition between .said side walls extending forwardly from therearof said-plate, said partition having walls parallel to :the vrespectine side .wallsand converging together intermediate :the ends .of said .plate, a horizontal shaft .journaled in saidconverging side \walls above the said plateancl (forwardly .of said ,partition, a-pairof :friction wheels on said shaft,.one Wheelbeing positioned oneach .side of said lpartition, .a pressure :tab between one side wall-and the parallelipartition wall overlying one wheel, .a ,pressure stabbetween the other .side wall and :the parallel .partition wall overlying the other wheel, landspivotal mountings supporting the .rear ends of .said ;-tabs .on arms :below said shaft and normal to the respective side walls so cards beneath said tabs have their edges resting upon said base plate at the juncture of said rear Wall and their bottom surfaces inclined forwardly and upwardly relative to the base plate and resting upon the respective wheels.

CHARLES G. PHELPS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 373,953 Tingley et a1 Nov. 29, 1887 Number 6 w Name Date Kellogg July 26, 1921 Matthaey Feb. 23, 1932 Matthaey Apr. 24, 1934 Shepherd et a1 Apr. 23, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 25, 1938 

